A network of greenhouse farms using nanolight technology will be established in Kazakhstan. So far, the biotechnology greenhouse located in the industrial park of Nur-Sultan is the only one in the country. Cucumbers and tomatoes have been grown in large quantities there for three years now. The author of the unique project is Amangeldi Taukenov. To implement his idea in 2016, Taukenov received a grant from the Science Fund in the amount of more than 200 million tenge (US$468,384).
“The uniqueness of this development is that we used nanoparticles based on LED emitters in order to get a more accurate spectrum of light that allows us to increase the intensiveness of plant growth and yields on average by about 20 to 30 percent. It should be noted that this also saves electricity by 50 to 70 percent compared to traditional lamps. Why did we build this greenhouse? In order to show those engaged in greenhouse farming that these LED-based luminaires do work and bring good results,” said Amangeldi Taukenov, project author.
Just one square meter of greenhouse produces, on average, up to 90 kilograms of vegetables, Taukenov said. And there are over 6,000 such squares. Not only does the use of special nanoparticles in lighting produce good yields, but a number of other innovative tricks. These include automated climate control, a system for regulating CO2, temperature and air humidity. All this, as well as the work of agronomists, makes it possible to harvest the crops almost all year round.
“These nanotechnologies were developed jointly by Kazakh and Illinois scientists. They have selected the right nanoparticles, which change the composition and photons of light and allow plants to grow quickly. This is a unique project for the innovative cultivation of grain, crops in the country. This invention increases productivity. 200 million tenge was invested in this project, however we have now already managed to return to the country’s economy over 500 million tenge (US$1.1 million) from sales,” said Aryn Orsariyev, Chairperson of Science Fund.
The commercialization of scientific projects in Kazakhstan is underway. The state actively supports scientists and their breakthrough ideas through the Science Fund. Over the course of five years, more than 200 innovative projects have been selected in the country, of which more than 150 have successfully passed the competition. 103 of them are now actively operating in the Kazakh market, and 13 projects are exporting their products.
Translation by Assem Zhanmukhanova
Editing by Saule Mukhamejanova
